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    Urban Bliss Life » Travel » 2016 Toyota Sienna Review

    Published: July 10, 2016 / Updated: April 30, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    2016 Toyota Sienna Review

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    A minivan that exceeds expectations: the Sienna has luxury car features to meet modern family travel needs. Check out my 2016 Toyota Sienna Review.

    2016 Toyota Sienna review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    When I was in my early hip, happening, exciting 20s, I drove a company car – it was a minivan.

    Let that sink in for a moment: I drove a minivan, in my early 20s. A time in life when you're still trying to find love, find yourself, and you sort of still care about impressing your friends and strangers alike. Granted, you can't beat a free car (especially at that stage in life) but the cool factor definitely did NOT surround me as I drove around town.

    Minivans have come a long way since then. Recently, I had the opportunity to test drive the 2016 Toyota Sienna for a week.

    My kids didn't want to give it back. They loved it. And, I was actually impressed... with a minivan! Let's take a look at some of the cool features that make this the original Swagger Wagon.

    Jump to:
    • Intro
    • Exterior
    • Interior
    • Storage
    • Safety
    • Wrap up

    Intro

    2016 Toyota Sienna interior

    The 2016 Toyota Sienna seats up to eight people. Eight! That's almost my kid's whole softball team. My brother and his wife are about to welcome their fifth child into the world, and this minivan would actually allow their whole family to ride together in one vehicle, in style.

    Exterior

    2016 Toyota Sienna review: exterior

    The 2016 Toyota Sienna is well-designed and looks like a beautiful, sleek bullet racing down the road. The exterior styling is inspired by sports sedans: you have a sport mesh front grill with unique front and rear underbody spoilers that you don't see on most other minivans, giving it a slightly elevated level of cool.

    Interior

    2016 Toyota Sienna review: interior

    Inside, the 2016 Toyota Sienna is comfortable and streamlined. The dual moonroof makes the space feel even more spacious, which is always appreciated on especially long road trips.

    2016 Toyota Sienna review: interior

    The dashboard on this minivan puts everything at the driver's fingertips.

    Storage

    2016 Toyota Sienna review: cargo room

    Of course, one of the best features with any minivan is the storage and cargo space. The 2016 Toyota Sienna sports PLENTY of flexible space and makes it super easy for busy families to configure the interior seats and cargo room as needed, quickly.

    2016 Toyota Sienna review: interior
    Toyota Sienna car review on UrbanBlissLife.com
    kids and god in 2016 toyota sienna

    The kids decided to test out how much room there was in the backseat with the third row up and our dog jumped in to join them ;)

    Toyota Sienna car review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    There are also well thought-out extras, such as this awesome space in the front mid-seat console for bags, purses, or road-trip snacks.

    Toyota Sienna car review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    There's also a HUGE glove compartment, perfect for easily storing valuables that you don't want to leave in plain sight when you're quickly running into the store, as well as ample dash storage space above the glove compartment.

    Safety

    Toyota Sienna car review on UrbanBlissLife.com
    2016 Toyota Sienna review: backup cam

    The 2016 Toyota Sienna is the only minivan in its class with available All Wheel Drive (AWD), which I personally love living in an area that has steep hills, mountains, rough terrain, and windy roads. 

    It also comes with a clear, large rear safety camera in-dash, eight airbags, and the STAR Safety System.

    Wrap up

    The 2016 Toyota Sienna is a fabulous vehicle choice for the modern family. It is a very smooth ride - not at all like the clunky minivan I drove back in my 20s for work. The interior space is so well-designed for ultimate comfort and style; it's an optimal choice for road trips and for daily parental shuttle duties between work, school, and after-school activities. If your kids are in sports, you'll have ample space for all of their gear, the family game gear (stadium seats, umbrellas, blankets, coolers) - with room to spare!

    The base model starts at $28,850, which is more than many families can afford, but also, in my opinion, a decent price for everything you get with this minivan. And, if you're going to get a minivan, why not get one loaded with modern features and sleek styling, right?

    I test drove this vehicle for a week as part of a media loan program. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. 

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Becky says

        July 14, 2016 at 11:04 am

        *snort* Swagger Wagon. Just had to get that out of the way. :) Looks great for families, and Toyotas last forever!! Thanks for the great breakdown.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          July 14, 2016 at 6:24 pm

          ;-) Toyotas are great cars!

      2. Raz says

        July 12, 2016 at 11:17 am

        Oh wow! That's cool looking van. :)

        Reply
      3. Cathy Mini says

        July 12, 2016 at 12:13 am

        I love all Toyotas! The Sienna is definitely a great minivan. I love all of the interior, exterior, and safety features available.

        Reply
      4. Melissa says

        July 11, 2016 at 9:35 pm

        I learned to drive in a minivan and I loved it! I was always so comfortable sitting upright in a minivan... if that makes any sense. ;)

        Reply
      5. Pech says

        July 11, 2016 at 7:27 pm

        I'm with Erin, I'm always struggling where to put my purse!! Eight people is enough for a big family road trip with multiple generations!

        Reply
      6. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        July 11, 2016 at 7:17 pm

        Love the extra storage space for a purse. Why don't more car companies think of that? Probably because most car designers are men...?

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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